Page 10 - John Smit News Today

Former Springbok captain John Smit believes the British & Irish Lions tour has become more prestigious in the modern game compared to the amateur days.

The outstanding form of the Springboks based in Europe bodes well for the national side ahead of a bumper Test season.

This week’s BIG move: Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation launch inspiring TutuTalks series Samantha Mkandhla Discover how social entrepreneur Samantha Mkandhla learned to overcome the personal cost of servant leadership and still work to make the world a better place. She was the subject of the first in the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation’s 2021 TutuTalks series, launched this week. Mkandhla, who founded the award-winning social justice and advocacy platform Lady Liberty SA in 201...

Historic letter signed by Nelson Mandela and other Rivonia trialists on auction by UK education trust The historic letter is on auction for R34,000. Image: Canon Collins Trust A letter signed by the late former statesman Nelson Mandela and 23 other Rivonia trialists appealing for funds to cover legal costs for their treason trial is on auction by a UK-based education trust to support young South Africans to develop solutions to the climate change crisis. The Canon Collins ...

iAfrica Share with your network! 500 South African keynote speakers, MC’s, entertainers and trainers have been handed a critical lifeline in the form of an app which offers their services to conferences and corporates around the world.  Launched in the heart of the pandemic, on 5th May 2020, the WeSpeak Global app was designed for the South African events industry, to market thought leaders and entertainers while providing a marketplace to sell their short video keynotes, online books and tr...

Schalk Burger (Getty) Rugby World Cup 2003 will not be remembered as a highlight in the history of the Springboks, but it was during that tournament in Australia, that South Africa and Georgia clashed for the first and only time. This July, though, the Springboks will host Georgia in two Tests as they begin their preparations for the highly-anticipated series against the British & Irish Lions.  The match in 2003, which the Springboks won 46-19, does not seem like an overly ...

There is sure to never be another British & Irish Lions series like the 2021 tour to South Africa, thanks to the hurdles Covid-19 has placed in front of it.  The fact that the Springboks will play their first match in 19 months just weeks before they face the British & Lions in the first Test, underlines what a fraught time it has been for rugby, sport in general and the world at large. Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, who was appointed in early 2020, faced the very real prospect of taking ch...

Georgia offer Boks some needed preparation before Lions series © Copyright (c) Daily Maverick , All Rights Reserved There is sure to never be another British & Irish Lions series like the 2021 tour to South Africa, thanks to the hurdles Covid-19 has placed in front of it.  The fact that the Springboks will play their first match in 19 months just weeks before they face the British & Lions in the first Test, underlines what a fraught time it has been for rugby, sport in general and the world ...

The day John Smit wanted to KO referee Paul Honiss ... By Mike Greenaway ENGLAND captain Owen Farrell’s furious remonstrations with referee Pascal Gauzere on Saturday, The Boks had been defending in their 22 for a long period when New Zealander Honiss, after awarding yet another penalty, called over Smit and warned him that his players were overstepping the mark and that the next penalty would be accompanied by a card. “Go and talk to your players,” Honiss is clearly heard saying on the ...

First published in the Daily Maverick 168 weekly newspaper.  During some deep analysis on how to improve his already improving Springbok team after two successful years in 2004 and 2005, coach Jake White identified a weak area. “Imagine I had a wing the size and speed of (New Zealand’s) Joe Rokocoko,” White mused. “That would improve the team immediately.” Rokocoko was 1.88m tall, weighed 101kg and was blisteringly quick. JP Pietersen runs with the ball during the IRB World Cup match...